Air inlet valve for internal combustion engines



Nov. 8, 1932. A. c. BLANCKE 1,886,368

AIR INLET VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1932. A. c. BLANCKE 1,836,368

AIR INLET VALVE FDR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 iATENT OFFICE AUGUSTUS C. BLANCKE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AIR INLET VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed August 25,1930. Serial No. 477,658.

This invention relates to temperature responsive air intake means for internal combustion engines, and particularly to attachments for supplementing the usual carburetor adjustments with means for thermostatic control of the mixture. I

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of supplementary air controlmeans which -is simple and effec- 1 tive, and which may be readily installed upon a motor,' as by insertion between the carburetor and the intake manifold, or by attachment to the intake manifold at the point of attachment of the suction connections to vacuum tanks, windshield wipers, or the like.

In order to illustrate the invention, several difierent'embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings, in-which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view. of a gopreferred form of the temperature responsive air inlet control valve with its protective shell shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

.25 Fig. .3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a s1 between the carburetor and intake manifold 9 of the motor.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of an automobile motor showing the supplementary air device of Fig. 4 attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a variation,

respect to the attaching fittings thereof, of

' the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig.7 is a fragmentary side view of a.

motor showing the structure illustrated in 40 suction connection between a vacuum tank and the intake manifold.

Fig. 8 is a side view illustrating the air control device mounted at the end of a bendable tube. V Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a motor illustrating the structure shown in Fig. 8 with the tube bent suitably to bring the temperature responsive air' intake device into the in desired position with reference to the motor de view of the complete device in a form suitable for attachment in the joint P Fig. 6 applied to a pipe T inserted in the i to be subject to themotor temperature at such location.

Various appliances have heretofore been made for the purpose of proportioning fuel and air to meet conditions brought about by temperature changes in an internal combustion motor, as it is deemeddesirable to reduce the richness of the mixture when the motor warms up, in order to maintain a correct fuel and air mixture when the motor is at its 50 normal running temperature. v

A substantial saving of fuel may be effected in internal. combustion motors by supplementing't-he usual control devices of the carburetors by thermostatic means affect- :5 ing the relative proportions of air. and gas according to the temperature of the motor. The present invention includes structural improvements of such devices and their connections so as to insure perfect closure of the supplemental air valve when the engine is cold, to insure sensitivity to temperature of the engine and to insure freedom of valve action when the valve opens. a

The herein described structures are designed to meet this condition without requiring any changes in the motor or carburetor r se.

"Referring to the drawings, 1 is a cylindrical block or valve body. which is cut down so slightly at 2 for receivlng the end of a protecting shell 3 flush with the large diameter of block 1. Atits inner end the block 1 carrie's a. flat sided extension 4 which is transversely bored to provide an air passageway 5 5 having one or more air inlets. The passageway 5 communicates with a main passage way 6 leading to a larger threaded bore 7 The air intake ports 8 are preferably located at the ends of the transverse passage- .way 5 and are covered or uncovered by the wings of a movable U-shaped valve 9, carried at the free end of a bowed bi-metallic thermostatic strip 10. The strip 10 is bent to the form illustrated in Figure 1, and the end thereof, which is opposite the. valve carrying end is attached to the extension 4 by, the screws 11. As the motor temperature increases, the thermostatic strip 10 tends to move toward a straightened position, thus moving the valve 9 downwardly in Fig. 1, to partly or wholly uncover the ports '8. The air which is taken in through these ports passes along the passageways 5, 6 and 7, and thence to the intake manifold.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the valve body is mounted on an elbow fitting 12 which at one end has threaded engagement with the valve body and thermostatic-strip supporting block 1, and at the other end receives the threaded end 14 of a tubular projection 15 extending from the side of a gasket shaped fitting 16, shaped to fit between the carburetor and the intake manifold. The passageway through the fitting 12 communicates with a passageway 17 drilled through the projection 15 and centrally through the gasket shaped member 16 to the inner edge thereof, Where a port 18 delivers air to the intake manifold 19.

In Fig. 5, the device is shown mounted so that its temperature responsive element 10 is close to the motor, and subject to motor temperatures. As the temperature of the motor increases the valve 9 moves away from the ports 8, admitting additional air to the intake manifold.

The structure illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is essentially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, except that the gasket shaped fitting 16 is replaced by a nipple 19 extending from a T-fitting 20, which is placed between a nipple 21 threaded to the intake manifold, and a nipple 22 to which is attached the end of the air tube 23 leading to the fuel supply vacuum tank 24.

The structure shown in Figures 8 and 9 is the same as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 except for the fittings intermediate the T 20 and the temperature responsive device. These fittings include the ben'dable tube 25. The tube 25 may be bentas shown in Fig. 9 so as'to bring the temperature responsive device to a point somewhat removed from the intake manifold and where it is more directly subject to motor temperatures.

The wings of the U-shaped valve 9 are farther apart at the tips than at their connected bottom ends, as viewed from Fig. 2, and the opposite flat sides of the extension 4 of the valve body in which the ports 8 are located, are likewise slightly inclined to each other to correspond with the taper of the .wings of the valve. This formation of the valve assists in effecting a perfect closure when the valve moves into position for closing ports 8. The U-shaped valve may be made of resilient thermostatic metal, preferably thinner than the thermostatic strip on which it is mounted. When the engine is cold, the wings of the valve press inwardly against the sides of the valve body, thus further contributing to a perfect closure at ports '8 and also preventing the valve from fluttering under fluctuating pressures. Since the valve is connected with the intake manifold, the lower pressure therein with reference to the pressure outside of the valve is another factor which insures the tight closing of ports 8 under normal temperature conditions. When the valve has become heated, its wings spread releasing their grip on the projection 4 and permitting the Valve to move freely under the action of the thermostatic strip.

Although certain embodiments of the invention 'are specifically illustrated and described herein, it Will be understood that various details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: a

1. A thermostatic air inlet valve comprising a valve body having a fiat surface with an inlet port opening thereto, a U-shaped valve embracing said body and having a wing slidable on said fiat surface to open and close said port, and thermostatic means for actuating said valve.

2. A thermostatic air inlet valve comprising a body having a flat side with an' inlet port therein, a U-shaped valve embracing said body and having a wing slidable on said body to open and close said port, the fiat side of said body being inclined with reference to the path of travel of the valve whereby there is a wedging action between the valve body and the U-shaped valve, and thermostatic means for actuating said valve.

3. A supplementary air intake device for internal combustion motors comprising a body having a longitudinal air passageway therein, said body also being provided with transverse air passageways communicating with said longitudinal passageway and terminating in air inlet ports, a U-shaped valve structure mounted to control said inlet ports, a bi-metallic thermostatic strip carrying said U-shaped valve and operative to cover and uncover said ports according to the temperature of said strip, and means for supporting said strip.

4. A supplementary air intake device for internal combustion motors comprising, a body having a main air passageway provided with air inlet ports, a U-shaped valve structure mounted. upon the end of a bi-metallic thermostatic strip in position to cover and uncover said ports according to the movement of said strip, means for attaching said strip to said body portion, and a protecting shell surrounding said strip.

5. A supplementary air intake device for internal combustion motors comprising a body having a main air passageway therein,

said body also being provided with transversely extending air passageways communicating with said axial passageway and terminating in air inlet ports, a U-shaped valve structure mounted upon the end of a bent bi- .'.0 ing and uncovering said port, said valve comr 1,886,868 v a 3 metallic thermostatic strip in position to temperature at the valve and with one of the cover and uncover said ports according to the wings arranged to cover the port, and thermovement of said strip, and means for at mostatic means for-moving the valve toward taching said strip to said body portion, a tuand away from said port.

bular connection secured at one end to said Signed at Chicago this 21st day of Au- '23 body and communicating with the main air gust, 1930. a passageway therein, a gasket shaped member. V AUGUSTUS C, BLANCKE. attached edg'ewise to said tubular connection I and provided with a passageway communim eating with said tubular member and termii i 7.;

- mating in a port at the inner edge of said gasket shaped fitting.

6. A supplementary air intake device for internal combustion motors, comprising a 35 valve body having opposite plane surfaces m a 80 clined to each other, said valve body being provided with intake ports opening to said surfaces, a valve for covering and uncovering said ports, said valve comprising a substan- 23 tially U-shaped element, and a bi-metallic thermostatic strip arranged to carry said U shaped element at one end, and means for supporting the bi-metallic thermostatic strip at the other end. 25 7 A supplementary air intake device for .90

internal combustion motors, comprising a valve body having opposite plane surfaces and provided with an intake. port opening to one of said plane surfaces, a valve for cover prising a" substantially 1 ll-shaped element with its wings adapted to engage the opposite plane surfaces, and thermostatic means for moving said valve toward and, away l l from said port. 160

8. A supplementary air intake device for internal combustion motors, comprising a valve bod having opposite plane surfaces and provi edwith an intake port opening to .40 one of said plane surfaces, and a valve for v I 105 covering and uncovering said port, said valve comprising a substantially U-shaped piece .of bi-metallic thermostatic material having its wings adapted for engagement with the opposite plane surfaces; Y I

' 9.A supplementary intake device for internal combustion motors comprising, a valve body having an intake port opening to one surface thereof and a valve for cover- 5Q ing and uncoveringfsaid port, said valve com- 115 prising, a substantially U-s'haped piece of'bimetallic-thermostatic material having wings adapted to embrace the valve body with vary ing degrees, of tension depending upon the temperature at the valve and with one of f l 120,

the wings arranged to'cover the port.

10,. A supplementary intake device for internal com ustion motors comprising, a. valve body having an intake port opening to one surface thereof, a'valve for covering 7 12 and uncovering said port, said valve com-' prising a substantially U-shaped piece of himetallic thermostatic material having wings adapted to embrace the valve body with .varyingdegroesoftensiondependinguponthc 

